Wednesday 29 October 2014

Tried & Loved - Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask







 It looks a little odd, but stick with me - this is a fun mask with super benefits!

I originally purchased this mask when I was in America ohhhh, in 2010 it was actually (how sad, I need to get back ASAP!). I believe I had heard about this mask from other beauty bloggers in the states and was super excited to be able to get my hands on it. It's still a mask that I turn to today, 4 years later.

The mask is described by Boscia as:

"An innovative peel-off mask that helps boost skin clarity and minimize the appearance of pores. Removes dirt and impurities, absorbs excess oil and reveals a healthy, glowing complexion."

This mask works best if you place a generous enough layer that you can barely see your skin through it, avoiding the eye area of course, but not so thick that it won't dry. I used to be a little bit too skimpy with the product to start with as I never wanted it to run out, but trust me, the tube will last for ages! If you have a generous layer similar looking to what mine is in the pictures above, you will find it a lot easier to peel off too.

As the mask dries you will feel it tightening a little on your face. It's certainly not an uncomfortable tightness, and there's no tingling or burning like I've had happen with other masks. Once it's dry you will know by moving your face and feeling like your skin and the mask are moving together and that it's dry to touch. Now for the fun part... peeling it off!

Remember peeling off PVA glue from your hand and fingers in primary school? It's a little like this, but with your face. Haha. I try to test myself and see if I can peel it all off in one piece. You might be impressed to know that this time, pictured above, I got it all off in one single piece apart from 2 thin spots on the very edge of the mask. Ha. The parts that don't come off, trust me when I say it's a lot easier to rub the skin until it balls up and peels off than to wash it off with water. Wetting the mask resets the mask properties and it's a little bit messier to get off that way.

Once you peel off the mask you will literally be able to see how the mask has benefited your skin. You can see little pieces that have been pulled from your pores and skin surface. Kind of gross, but quite satisfying. Your face will feel completely smooth and fresh, and I do believe that the claims from Boscia are true, you will be left with a healthy glowing complexion free from impurities.

This mask is also apparently quite similar to the Kose Mask White - more details on that here. If you've tried that, did you find it as effective as I've described?

You can read more about the Boscia Black Face Mask here, and I am assuming this brand will be available once Sephora hits the Australian shores this December. Finally! ^_^

What's your favourite face mask to clear blackheads and brighten your skin? Would you like to try this, or is it a bit too strange? x


Tuesday 28 October 2014

Wishlist - October 2014



1. I recently was alerted to this product by miss Rhian at her Wifelife blog. It looks like a great cheap product to use for highlighting as part of contouring and highlighting the face after foundation! 
I am yet to find where I can buy this in Australia though, so if anyone knows please share. The e.l.f. Australia site doesn't list it and neither does the Crush Cosmetics site. :(

2. Now that I'm studying to be a makeup artist I definitely value my brushes and all of their purposes a whole lot more. I have a nice set that we got with school, but this set is GREAT for the price and has a lot of duo fibre brushes that I would love to upgrade my kit with. I have seen nothing but great reviews for these brushes, with comparisons to MAC or Sigma - both of which I have in my personal brush sets and love! I think this will be my splurge item with my tax return money. :)

3. This brand keeps popping up with makeup artists that I love on instagram, and watching some videos from Rhian (again, yup) this week reminded me that I still would love to try these!  I'm looking at getting some more nude colours, so I'd love to try some of these lipsticks and glosses to layer with. Have you tried these? What are your favourite colours?

4. This was another product that I randomly came across on instagram, and since then they keep popping up from time to time. Now that I'm washing my makeup brushes a lot more often (every time I use them!), I think that a couple of these would definitely make my life easier!

5. I had never heard of this brand before watching Rhian's youtube, but again, now that I've seen the amazing difference it made with her lashes - I need it. Haha. I am a bit of a mascara hoarder (I currently am using 7 different types on rotation.) so this would be a great addition to the collection. Hopefully I can get this to ship to Australia! Is it a big brand overseas if you're not from Australia?

That's it for this month. As you can tell I've mostly been watching Rhian's youtube and reading her blog and being highly influenced from that. She has a great channel so make sure you check her out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2ISnT2ZBA3aYYFilzli1g 

Have you got any of these products already? What are you lusting over this month? x

Sunday 26 October 2014

FOTD - Fresh Faced in 15 Minutes



Sometimes I just want to have a quick and easy look with no fuss, and this one meets that criteria perfectly! This is a quick 15 minute face with minimal products. Great for lazy Sunday's. :)

When you have limited products you can still definitely create depth in your face. Simply running over the crease again, after blending the colour across the entire lid, will give you a darkened crease and appear as though it's a 2nd colour creating depth to the eye. Add a lick of mascara to widen the eye further, a swipe of blush to brighten the cheeks, and a softly coloured gloss to even out the eye focus and you're done!

Products used for this look: 

Foundation: Urban Decay - Naked Skin Foundation in shade 1.0
Concealer: Bare Minerals - Correcting Concealer in shade 'Light 1'
Powder: Bare Minerals - Original Foundation powder in shade 'Fairly Light'

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow Powder Duo in shade 'Medium Brown'

Lips: Australis - Mint Condition Lip Gloss 




Note: While posting this I realised that I think this Australis lip gloss is no longer being sold on their website. I hope it's not discontinued because it's amazing! :(


What is your quick "go to" look when you're low on time? Would you try this look in 15 minutes?


Friday 24 October 2014

Tried and Loved - Little Bird 'Organic Paw Paw Balm'



This one's for all the Paw Paw lovers of the world, I know there's a lot of you out there...

Before I was sent these to review I had never heard of this cute little brand called "Little Bird", but I am so glad they have now crossed my path! These little tubes are full of organic ingredients, and free from petrochemicals or added preservatives, and they perform superbly.

There are 3 different varieties currently available, as pictured above: original (fragrance free), tangerine, and pink grapefruit.

"Little Bird Organic Paw Paw soothes and softens lips, repairs appearance, seals in moisture and provides protection from external exposure. The balm can also be used for dry and irritated skin."

I was a little hesitant when testing these out as I personally never use the more common Lucas' Papaw for my lips. I have tried it before and despite some people swearing by it, I find it overly greasy, and ultimately not beneficial to my lips. They end up worse than before I even put it on if that's even possible. This formulation is completely different, and in the best way possible. It keeps all the benefits of paw paw but in a way that does exactly as the brand describes. My lips stay hydrated for a long period of time, and it lasts so well leaving a nice sheen on my lips. There's no weird taste with these either, which was another thing I hated from the previously mentioned Lucas' papaw.

The applicator for these makes it easy to apply without getting it all over your fingers, and there's no wasted product.

These products are a great multi tasker too. I have found they're great to provide a high sheen on the face, or even to add with eye shadow for a different texture and glistening finish.

If you like the original paw paw brands, I definitely recommend you give this brand a try. I find them for me to be a perfect pick me up for my lips.

These are available to purchase from your local Coles believe it or not. You might have to check for it the next time you're doing your weekly shopping. They retail for $5.50 each on the Coles website.

Do you use paw paw for your lips or any of it's other purposes? What do you love about it? x



Wednesday 15 October 2014

FOTD - A Fierce Utopia



Determined to use all my new Lime Crime products on a regular basis I thought I'd give this new Velvetine another run! I haven't tried it with my new hair colour yet, so here's a look from when I was still blonde. 

This lip colour is described as a 'blue based orchid' but it is still most definitely very purple! This is another great colour for those with green eyes that want to use the complimentary colour to give their eyes that extra kick. 

This time I decided to pair the bold lip colour with a nice big liner wing, and some pretty pink/purple hues to match the overall look. I added some pretty false lashes to keep my lashes still quite noticable even with the heavy liner which really adds some emphasis and balance on the eyes vs. lips. 

Products used for this look: 

Foundation: Nars - Sheer Glow Foundation in shade 'Mont Blanc'
Concealer: Bobbi Brown - Corrector in shade 'Porcelain Bisque' for under eyes and highlights and Bare Minerals - Correcting Concealer in shade 'Light 1'
Powder: Bare Minerals - Original Foundation powder in shade 'Fairly Light'

Eye crease/outer lower lash line: Urban Decay - Naked Palette 1 in 'Hustle'
Eyeliner: Kat Von D - Tattoo Liner in shade 'Trooper' for top and "wings" and Smashbox - Limitless Eyeliner in shade 'Onyx' for lower lash line
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow Powder Duo in shade 'Medium Brown'

Contour: M.A.C. - Sculpting Powder Pro Palette in shade 'Sculpt'

Nails: Kit nail polish - Siesta Indigo [Limited Edition] (as seen previously on my blog here)

Have you tried Lime Crime's Utopia yet? What do you think of this look? x

Monday 13 October 2014

Tried and Loved - NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in 'Damned'



Nars products have yet to disappoint me, and this is no exception! This is the perfect alternative to the "normal" bold red lip.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade 'Damned' is a magenta colour - meaning it has a purple undertone to it - and for me having green eyes this means the colour really makes my eyes pop! It definitely appears darker in the pencil than it does on the lips, so don't be put off if you don't reach for dark colours often.

Nars describe their Velvet Matte Lip Pencil as:
"The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design. Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish. The long lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours. Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product."

The thing that really stands out with this lip pencil is that even though it's a matte finish, it definitely doesn't dry my lips at all! I would say this is owed to the vitamin E which is in the formula. 

The colour payoff is also outstanding and one swipe will give you the perfect colour which lasts for hours and hours. Being a matte it really lasts a long time, and even eating and drinking barely dents the colour (apart from oily food which will move any lip colour!). 

I find these lip pencils really easy to apply because the pencil makes for a really precise application, while the chubby pencil makes the coverage quick and easy. I have a NARS sharpener too which fits this pencil shape, and the smaller pencils perfectly meaning hardly any product is wasted when sharpening. 

I absolutely love every shade of these that I've tried. I also have the matte in Dragon Girl (an all time favourite flattering for everyone red!), and the Satin Lip Pencil in shade 'Lodhi' - to be reviewed at a later date ;)

In Australia you can purchase these from Mecca Cosmetica for the new lower price of $34! So great to see the prices coming down on so many products. 

Have you tried any of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? Which shade is your favourite? x

Monday 6 October 2014

FOTD - Spring peach



I'm so glad to have time to be back blogging and sharing my new favourite looks and products with you all. I've missed blogging so much, so I'm going to definitely be making it a priority again! 

I will definitely be posting more shots of my 'face of the day' and some tutorials for my favourite looks. Make sure you leave any requests in the comments below for any looks you'd like to see! 

I recently took a trip to Adelaide and the hotel we stayed at (The Minima Hotel in North Adelaide) has these amazing murals on each wall behind the bed. Each room has a different mural from a different artist. So beautiful and unique! This is what you can see behind my head in these images. :)

I've also just recently dyed my hair a light peach as I'm sure you've noticed in these shots. My hairdresser wanted to experiment with some new colours that she got into her salon, and knew I would be a willing participant. I actually really love the colour! It'll be great for summer. I've found myself adjusting my makeup to suit my hair colour as it changes (it was blue before this, hehe) and to reflect that lately I've been using a lot of peach in my makeup to compliment it. 

Products used for this look: 

Foundation: Nars - Sheer Glow Foundation in shade 'Mont Blanc'
Concealer: Bobbi Brown - Corrector in shade 'Porcelain Bisque' for under eyes and highlights and Bare Minerals - Correcting Concealer in shade 'Light 1'
Powder: Bare Minerals - Original Foundation powder in shade 'Fairly Light'

Eyeshadow base/lid: M.A.C. - Eyeshadow in 'Bamboo'
Eye crease/outer lower lash line: Stila - Eyeshadow in 'Whim' from the 'In The Moment' palette 
Eyeliner: Kat Von D - Tattoo Liner in shade 'Trooper' for top and "wings" and Smashbox - Limitless Eyeliner in shade 'Onyx' for lower lash line
Lashes: False lashes by Ardell (my box is mixed up I can't remember the number sorry!) and Bare Minerals - Lash Domination mascara
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow Powder Duo in shade 'Medium Brown'

Contour: M.A.C. - Sculpting Powder Pro Palette in shade 'Sculpt'
Cheeks: Nars - Blush in shade 'Orgasm'
Lipstick: Lime Crime - Opaque Lipstick in shade 'Coquette' 


This look was easily transformed from day to night by adding a bolder lip for when I went out later that night. I often will do my makeup early in the day for activities later that night so I don't have to do my makeup twice. Hehe. 

Hope you like this look! Is there something in this look you love, or now want to try since seeing this post? x


Sunday 5 October 2014

Sephora Haul - sneak peek!







One of my friends recently took a trip back to her home in the United States and me being me, I took a little bit too much of an advantage of that and made a huge Sephora order! 

I made sure to order things that I know that I can't get here in Australia, or that were limited to Sephora so I ordered from brands like Kat Von D, Tarte, Makeup Forever, and Anastasia Beverly Hills. Some of these brands you can get in Australia, but are quite expensive to ship in, or things just don't come to Australia like the Smashbox Master Class Palette.

I ordered a lot of things that have had a lot of great hype lately - like the Anastasia dipbrow, and the MUFE HD foundation so I can't wait to really give those a good trial! The other goodies I ordered were mostly to get a few better palette's to add to my makeup kit, and because I've been eyeing them off to try for a while. 

I am super impressed with all the palette's at first glance, and the only thing I've been unimpressed with so far is the Kat Von D studded lipstick in 'Homegirl'. The application was super patchy, uneven, not as pigmented as I expected. It was so bad that I couldn't wear it. Such a shame because it's such a beautiful shade, and amazing packaging. 

I will be doing a more in depth review of these products once I've given them a proper whirl. Stay tuned!

Sephora opens in Australia in December and I am super interested to see which brands they will and won't be stocking (although I have a fairly good idea of most of them at the moment). I will definitely also be interested to see how the pricing will affect the rest of the Australian market! 


Have you tried any of these products? What is your favourite item from these brands? x